Despite being sideline with a fracture in his foot, the Niagara IceDogs defenceman learned the injury wasn’t as serious as first thought. Original reports had him out for about a month, but now the big rearguard is hoping to be back in a couple of weeks.

“It shouldn’t be too long,” Haydon said while balancing himself on crutches during Day 2 of training camp. “The doctor told me once it stops hurting I can get back on the ice. I’ll have a boot support for my foot but I won’t be playing for a couple of weeks.”

IceDogs coach/general manager Marty Williamson is relieved the news on Haydon isn’t as bad as it could have been.

“It’s not the best-case scenario, but it’s not the worst-case either,” Williamson said. “He’ll miss a little bit of training camp here but I think he’ll be ready for start of the season.”

Haydon was injured at the team’s golf tournament Monday.

“I was stepping off curb from the grass to the parking lot and it rolled on me,” he said. “All my weight went on my ankle and it snapped my foot.”

Haydon didn’t think much of it until later in the day when there was some significant swelling in his ankle.

“I thought it was just a little strain and that it would be better in a few days but it blew up like a balloon by the end of the day,” Haydon said. “The next morning the trainer said he didn’t think it should be that big so went for an x-ray and it was a fracture.”

Haydon, who missed a good chunk of last season with a broken jaw, is already chomping at the bit to get back on the ice.

“I love being out there with the guys,” he said. “I think in a week I’ll be able to do stuff. The doctor said once the pain is gone, I should be good (to go).

“I convinced the doctor not to put me in a cast. I can’t injure it anymore walking on it so I’m going to try and get back on the foot as soon as possible.”

Williamson isn’t concerned the injury will set back Haydon too much.

“This is a guy who was over in Prague for the (under-18) world championships and already played a fair amount of hockey this summer. He keeps himself in good shape so I’m not too worried about him,” Williamson said.

ON THE MOVE AGAIN

For the second straight day the IceDogs began camp at Jack Gatecliff Arena, only to have to move to the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre.

Tueday, it was the fog at Gatecliff that necessitated the move. Wednesday, the power went out just after the club went on for their 8:30 a.m. session.

“We waited for half and hour or so and then got on the phone and scrambled to get some ice time,” IceDogs equipment manager Kevin Emo said. “When you have a rink that’s 80 years old, things are going to happen.”

Emo and his staff quickly rounded up as much equipment as they could and headed out to set up shop at the four-pad.

“It is a bit of a logistical nightmare but you make due with what you have,” he said. “You pile in bare essentials and keep our fingers crossed that things go smoothly.

“The players are understanding. It’s not the best situation but I have good help and the city has been great. Very accommodating.”

The IceDogs camp will all be held at the 4-pad Thursday, including the Black and White intersquad game.

ICEDOGS INK THREE

The IceDogs signed Graham Knott, Cody Caron, and Sam Berg Wednesday.

Knott was the first of two IceDog third round picks in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection and his commitment gives the IceDogs commitments from their top five selections in the 2013 Priority Selection. The winger picked up eight goals and eight assists in 25 games with the York Simcoe Express last season.

Caron, a-17-year old-centre, was drafted from the Sault Ste. Marie North Stars where he put up 22 goals and 23 assists for 45 points in 31 games last season.

Berg was selected by the IceDogs in the 14th round of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.

He split last season between the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and Hamilton Jr. Red Wings of the OJHL where he accumulated 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points, as well as 215 penalty minutes in 52 games.

CUTS COMING

With over 60 players in camp, Thursday will see the first cuts of camp. Some will be cut following the morning sessions (8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.) while others will be made following the Black and White game. Williamson indicated he’d like to get down to about 40 players Thursday.